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Bring Back Bobby!

By John Clayton
ESPN.com
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Bobby April, one of the league's top special teams coaches, has exercised a clause in his contract that makes him a free agent on Tuesday, according to a source.

April had two years remaining on his contract and was informed Monday by the Buffalo Bills that he and the other assistant coaches have the right to pursue other jobs as the organization searches for a new coach.

Since the mid-season firing of Dick Jauron, April has been trying to decide what to do with the final years of his contract.

The contract gives him 14 days after the season to make a decision. Knowing he will be in demand, April decided to inform the team he was leaving.

April, 56, also serves as the assistant head coach of the Bills. April has won special team awards in two of the past six years. He also has coached with the Steelers, Falcons, Saints and Rams.

April was the only assistant not hired originally by Jauron.

The Bills announced in a statement that the team's current staff remains under contract but the coaches have been informed that their obligations for this season have been completed, and they now "have the opportunity to seek positions elsewhere." The release said their status then will be determined by the Bills' next head coach.

Despite how the Bills phrased the release, a person familiar with the team's decisions told The Associated Press that the staff was fired.

The Bills closed their 50th season by missing the playoffs for a 10th straight year, capping a decade in which they enjoyed only one winning season -- a 9-7 finish in 2004